NFL Report

POINT-COUNTERPOINT

Each Friday, columnist Dan Daly and Redskins beat writer Ryan O’Halloran debate an NFL issue. This week’s topic: What are the most interesting statistics of the season so far?

Dan Daly: How about this one: Jay Cutler has thrown two more interceptions (10) than JaMarcus Russell (eight). And yet Cutler just had his contract extended by the Bears, while Russell finally got benched Sunday in Oakland. Here’s another one: Aaron Rodgers has been sacked more times than any other quarterback (25), but he still has the second-best passer rating (110.8). That, to me, is remarkable. I wonder whether any quarterback has ever led the league in being sacked and in passing. I tend to doubt it. By the way, Peyton Manning, who’s tops in passing (114.5), has been sacked a grand total of twice.

Ryan O’Halloran: The Saints are on pace to provide us with all kinds of offensive statistics this year. New Orleans has reached 45 points in four of its six games, and here’s the one that is mind boggling - 11 players have at least one offensive touchdown. That’s remarkable. As an NFL personnel director told me last week, the Saints are turning into the new “Greatest Show On [Field] Turf.” On defense, Denver has undergone a transformation with old friend Mike Nolan running the show. The Broncos have gone from allowing 28 points and 374.6 yards a game last year to 11 points and 262.5 yards in a 6-0 start this year.

DD: First of all, I already used the word “remarkable.” So knock if off. But speaking of that Saints defense… have you noticed what Darren Sharper has been doing at the age of almost 34? The guy has intercepted six passes in the first six games - and returned three for scores. I never thought I’d see another defensive back take a serious run at Night Train Lane’s record of 14 picks in a season, but Sharper might have an outside shot. For one thing, his offense scores tons of points, so opponents are going to be playing catch-up a lot, and that means putting the ball in the air a lot. Also, his three touchdown returns are one off the record, and his return yardage (317) is only 41 off the record. And finally, my hero Wes Welker is leading the league in receptions (46) despite missing two games. Has anybody ever done that?

RO: I just hope I can be in Canton when you introduce Welker at the Pro Football Hall of Fame ceremony. I love watching Sharper play because his football IQ is so high, he’s always anticipating plays. One last statistic that is only going to get worse as bad teams lose the few good players they have because of injuries - blowouts. Through seven weeks, 29 games have been decided by 20 or more points - a sign of just how many woeful teams there are this year - and the Redskins haven’t even been blown out yet. Last week, six games had margin of victories of 28 points or more. That equals some bad December football.

WEEKEND PICKS

GAME OF THE WEEK

VIKINGS (6-1) AT PACKERS (4-2)

Sunday, 4:15 p.m.

TV: Chs. 5, 45

Line: Packers by 3

Outlook: Minnesota lost for the first time last week when it handed Pittsburgh the game, allowing two defensive touchdowns in the fourth quarter; the Packers have beat up on Detroit and Cleveland the last two weeks. The Vikings go to Lambeau Field knowing they will be able to harass Aaron Rodgers - Minnesota sacked him eight times in last month’s victory. Weather won’t be an issue (high of 46 degrees), so Brett Favre will make his first trip to Green Bay a winning one.

The pick: Vikings 35-34

UPSET WATCH

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